Night vision is the human eye’s ability to see through darkness. Activities done at night like driving can be a bummer, especially if your night vision isn’t that great. This is one of the reasons why automakers are still investing a lot for smart headlight systems.

However, if you still need to drive or need to go out at night then you might consider employing techniques on improving night vision.

Hey, scouts do teach something you’d eventually find useful. Note that these tips are only for your natural night vision.

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Safe driving should be a prerequisite of having a driver’s license. However, it’s a sad fact that not all legal drivers on the road bear justice to their license. How many jerks do you happen to come by on the road? Or perhaps your a jerk as well.

This even raises the question as to whether legislators should raise the driving age to 18, just to minimize the number of hormonally-charged (emo?) drivers out there. But as with a lot of things, one can simply try to follow some core road rules to keep yourself and everyone else on the road safe.

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Planning your trips and routes to take does help a lot in helping you get the most out of every buck that you decide to put into the gas tank and out through the exhaust. TripAdvisor, that directory, of getaway-related information has launched this service that lets you see which trip-worthy destinations are accessible from within the range of a full tank of gas.

The service is pretty straightforward, just enter your starting point (city/town) and select the range of where you’d want to go with choices ranging from a quarter, half and full tank of gas. Now this is great for those looking for accessible getaway points for those wanting to go on a mini-road trips.

However, one lacking feature to the equation is the car’s fuel efficiency and capacity. Obviously, the places you can get to if your car only has a wee tank or guzzles gas like an alcoholic on a binge. Oh not to mention traffic flow through certain routes. Oh well, yes, I’m nitpicking.

Visit TripAdvisor’s Tank of Gas service here.

Ever had that temp guage needle spike up on you? I guess an overheating engine is one of the more common on-road problems that you might experience as a motorist. So what do you do?

Pull over. Pull over to the shoulder for an emergency pit stop. Turn the engine off and pop up the hood. If pulling over isn’t possible, turn off the A/C, open the windows, then set the heater to maximum. This will help dissipate engine heat. Just pay attention to the needle. Most modern cars have a failsafe feature where the engine will shut-off just as before the temperature reaches the red. The radiator cap also has a release valve to release excess pressure. If you have steam coming out of your hood or if your temperature continues to spike, pull over!

Wait for the engine to cool off a bit. One common mistake panicky drivers do when faced with an overheating engine is that they try to pop open the radiator cap to slosh in some cooling agent (water or coolant). Don’t try opening the radiator cap. A lot of pressure (from steam) has built in the radiator. Opening it would give you a nice scalding steam. Or worse a good shower of boiling water.

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Not all cars on the roads have them and not all cars coming out of the factory can have them as standard. But there’s a reason why anti-lock braking systems or ABS has been around as a safety feature. If you’ve driven a car without an ABS, you might have experienced wheel-locking when braking one time or another. Slam too hard on the pedal at a certain speed and your liable to screech to a halt. ABS prevents that. In most four-wheel ABS systems, this allows you to maintain steering.

Without being too technical, ABS is basically a system of a computer and sensors monitoring the speed of each wheel. When you press down on the pedal, the system kicks in and it takes over how each wheel should slow down to prevent unnecessary skids. If you’re new to the whole ABS thing, you might not notice anything strange at all save for the occasional pulsing of the brake pedal when the system kicks in.

However, this isn’t a foolproof system that would guarantee that skids won’t ever happen. Definitely, you have to consider other factors like the condition and grip of your tires. The road surface will also be a factor. Oil and tar on the blacktop will definitely give you less grip than a paved concrete road. Your speed and direction would also play a factor. The ABS doesn’t necessarily shorten the stopping distance of your car too.

You might want to test the system out in an empty parking lot when you get the chance. You might notice that driving on wet surfaces would affect overall handling but you will notice a difference when the ABS is working. You ABS usually just continues to work silently (unless your car has some options to turn it off). Usually, when it fails, it means that the system is not active (and the amber ABS light on the dash lights up). Usually, your brakes would work just fine, it’s just that you won’t have the ABS to help you out. But take it to a qualified mechanic as soon as possible for repairs.

Another trademark of a defensive driver is to drive by the book. Boring for the daredevils out there, but this is a surefire way of lessening accident risks. This means that if you have developed a driving plan towards a particular destination, stick to it.

As part of planning ahead, you should be able to give yourself ample time and space to position your car in the appropriate lanes so you can predictably make a turn or any other move at the right moment. Mind your blind sides (especially if your car doesn’t have the newfangled camera systems). Avoid tailgating and keep driving within the minimum and maximum speed limits. Even slow driving can be dangerous at times.

If you are not familiar with the area and need the aid of a map, then pull off to the side or a parking lot and not stop in the middle of the road. Be aware of your turn signals. Don’t forget to switch it back (if it does not auto cancel) to normal if you fail to make a turn. Do not confuse other motorists as well.

Another key to excellent driving is to keep a cool temper while behind the wheels. Haven’t you wondered that most road mishaps and even traffic violations have happened and committed when emotions are running real high? This is for the obvious reason that when emotions kick in, judgment takes a backseat.

Road rage is definitely something that you might want to control. In some areas, surveys have indicated that around 70% of drivers actually suffer from road rage. That’s pretty much 7 out of 10 cars on the road. And there’s a very high chance that you and the tailgating bastard from behind fall into this category.

If you are already stressed or upset even before stepping into your car, I suggest that you try to settle yourself first. Walk a bit or if you really are in a hurry, count to ten while taking deep breaths before turning the ignition on. If you are already driving, better pull over first and calm yourself down before driving off again.

Try not to blow your top off when other drivers make mistakes. Focus on keeping yourself safe. Your life is not worthy of being gunned down by a psycho driver on the loose just because you flipped a finger at him when he cut you on the road.

For the health conscious and those who wish to kick their junk food habit while driving on long trips with the family. Here are a few tips on what to eat. It ain’t a nature trail but, it sure does come close to it. By the way, the driver should always keep his or her attention on the road and not on the cooler.

Keep a small cooler in your car. You car might not be a camper with a fridge or a limo with a minibar but a small cooler can always be accessible. Fruit slices like apples, bananas, and pears make good snacks. Dried fruits can also be an option.

Be sure to check that they’re the more healthy variety. Vegetable sticks like carrots and celery are another option. Grapes, cherries, and cherry tomatoes need not be sliced. Kids may prefer to have dips with their sticks so keep yogurt and low fat dressing in the cooler as well. Some cheese and mini sandwiches of cream cheese and peanut butter can also do the trick for the tots.

Instead of candy, pack some trail mix. Try the one mixed with chocolate. You can also mix your own granola at home before leaving. Include lots of dried fruits and nuts!

If you’re the kitchen-type of person, why not bake a batch or two of oatmeal cookies the night before the trip? Include this in your snack pack.

Brake warning lights are there on the dash because they serve a purpose. What it does is to alert the driver that something is wrong with the braking system. It it suddenly lights up, immediately check your owner’s manual as it can mean a lot of things.

It can simply mean that the hand or parking brake is on and that you just need to disengage it. It can also mean the DOT-3/brake fluid in the master cylinder is low. If you smell something burning and it comes on, then the reason is obvious. If you do have an ABS-equipped car, then this means that you have an ABS light on the dash. This usually comes on when the car is started then switches off later. If it lights up, blinks, or stays on, then the ABS computer has gone a bit awry. Unfortunately, the problem can be as simple as a foreign matter has messed up with one of the sensors, or as complex as replacing the entire ABS unit.

In any case, if the warning light goes on, the best course of action, still is to get it scanned and tested by a qualified mechanic. Your braking system is not one to just ignore. As I would put it, stopping is more important than getting from 0-60 in sub-8 seconds. Getting a portable ODB-II scanner that you can easily link to your car’s diagnostic port can also give you an immediate result as to what’s causing the problem. Just have a reference guide of the error codes for your car.

Collisions usually happen when one or both the drivers are inattentive. Inattention in turn can be caused by several reasons – fatigue, drowsiness, talking, distractions, fiddling with the radio… As a defensive driver, one must be alert to be able to recognize the hazards that could be present on the road so that they could be avoided in time. Distracted driver kills. In the UK, they’ve already made moves to make fines a lot heftier just by driving distracted. So while we don’t have sterner legislation to make up for it, just make sure to keep your focus on the road.

This could be quite a difficult task, but the only way to be really alert while driving is to concentrate solely on what you are doing. Observe yourself. Find out how long it takes before your concentration falters and your mind starts to trouble itself with other things. Try to do this everyday and try to lengthen the time of concentration. Make a conscious effort of not doing anything else while driving.

Reserve doing your daily rituals outside the car. I’ve seen them. People who shave using the rear view. Drivers reading the paper behind the wheel. Guys chomping down on their happy meals. There’s only one thing that you should do behind the wheel and that’s to focus on the road. Even if it’s too tempting to make use of technology, try not to fidget with your phone. If you really need to take calls, then invest in a good hands-free car kit – one that require one-touch answering and dropping, provides a loudspeaker or an ear piece.

Eliminate risks when driving by managing them. How to do that? Defensive driving is the key. And many defensive drivers will tell you that it all starts with planning and keeping ahead of the pack. This translates to determining your routes and observing the risks that they present. Does your usual route present risks of intersection collisions? Do most of the motorists change lanes suddenly? Would these risks be avoided if you change your route?

Try out different routes and observe how most of the motorists behave. Take note of the various intersections, turns, and lane changes you need to cross or use. Observe traffic situations and the length of time it takes for you to get to your destination. Consider all of these factors until you formulate the best route to take. The key here is to plan ahead, which is an integral part of defensive driving.

There’s also the obvious benefit of having to go through the quickest and least congested areas too. With the pump prices nearly $5 a gallon, you definitely need a gas break. So fire up your GPS system (or your trusty map) and draw up the best routes to get from Point A to Point B.

Just three important tips to keep your sanity while driving in one of those long-distance holiday trips:

Try to avoid the holiday crowd. Best to plan the traveling so that you don’t spend the holiday on the road stuck with the other motorists because of the monstrous traffic jam! Be observant. There are holidays where most of the people travel days before rather than on the holiday itself (for example Thanksgiving). In this case, better hit the road on the exact day.

Be prepared for anything! Always keep a cache of emergency supplies and ration sin your vehicle. Include blankets, a flashlight, some candles and a box or two of matches, a bandana or tea towel, some paper towels, a first aid kit, fresh batteries, a container of water and some interesting reading materials. Bringing canned items and drinks (no alcohol) is also a good idea. This is in case bad weather strikes and the roads become impassable.

Lastly, take advantage of electronic distractions. Now is the time to bring your laptop, portable DVD player, and MP3 player with you. If you are worried about the amount of batteries you’ll use, get a power inverter. If you get in an area with good wireless service, you can always go online and check for road updates.

Car overheating? Then one (or more) of these could be the source of your problem:

Your car’s water pump may not be doing its work well. How do you know if this happens? If you are observant, you’d notice that there is a strong coolant odor while driving and there would also be small spots of coolant under the car. If the damage is worse, you’ d hear a tinny screeching noise and a very telling leak from the front of the pump or under the car.

The hose or the fan belt is broken. Hoses and fan belts do wear out and break and once they do, coolant will not be circulated through the engine which will then lead to overheating.

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This is for pet lovers who can’t help but bring their pets with them in their car trips. Choosing the right restraint for your pet dog depends on several factors which include the breed and size of the animal and the type of the vehicle you are driving.

The quickest way to deposit your dog in your vehicle is through the use of a pet seat belt system. It can be a harness which attaches to the car’s seat belt, or it can have hooks which you can install in larger vehicles. This allows more freedom and comfort to your pets, as they are made with nylon that are padded and adjustable, making sure that pressure is does not suffocate your pet. The cost of this safety contraption can go up to $60.

Pet car seats, which cost from $40 to $80, are also like the seatbelt but it also gives more prevention from injury in case of accidents, as most are framed in sturdy steel.

For cats and smaller dogs, pet carriers can be the best option. Not only they offer the freedom of the seatbelt and the protection of the car seat, but they also offer a more reassuring environment to pets that are not used to traveling. For larger pets, a more spacious version of a carrier, a pet crate is more advisable as they can be placed in the back of SUV’s and station wagons.

I get headaches when driving at night and that’s not just about incompetent drivers and frustrating traffic jams. It’s the glaring headlights of other vehicles! For other motorists such as moi, here are a few tips on how to not get these halogenic problem get to you.

First of all, it is illegal to turn bright lights on in the face of another driver. In some states, it is even a law to dim bright lights within a specific distance of an approaching vehicle or from behind. But in any case that you encounter such a fiend, do not lose yourself to the temptation of flashing your lights at him as well. One visually handicapped driver is bad enough, and when you make it two we’re talking about an impending disaster.

What you do is you avert your eyes instead making sure that you move them a bit downwards to the right. This will still enable you to use the fog-line (or the white stripe that outlines the edge of the road) as reference to keep the car aligned with the road, even if you are slightly visually impaired at the moment. Just make sure that you still keep aware if the vehicle with the ignoramus driver start to drift into your lane.

One of the most neglected parts of a car is of course the wiper blades. If you observe most vehicles, many blades would look ragged and tattered. Some may pass the appearance test, but when they are put to the test, they give out a loud screech and could barely do their job. Not only are malfunctioning wipers annoying, they can also cause accidents because without them doing what they’re supposed to do, you are prone to having poor vision.

It is very easy to replace wiper blades. So easy in fact, that you can do it yourself. You can buy the whole blade assembly but there are also refills available in the market. Measure first the blades so you won’t commit the mistake of buying too short or too long blades. Some blades are vehicle-specific so be careful with that. Just squeeze the locking tags at the end of the blades and they will slide or slip out of the holder. Fit the new blades, and they should fit snugly. Some generic replacement blades might require some trimming.

There are also blades that are perfect to swipe snow off your windscreen. Winter blades are commonly available in automotive shops but they can be slightly more expensive than regular ones. You might also have to find blades that are to your car’s specs.

Just as a guide, replace your wiper blades every six months to a year. But if you start seeing some difference in driving visibility or when the blades no longer make proper contact with the windshield surface.

Surveys say that many people aren’t really tire-smart, meaning a lot of people are not really keen on how many PSI their tires have. Having poorly inflated tires hastens tire wear and even heighten fuel consumption by creating unnecessary drag.

Here’s a quick guide on checking proper tire inflation I wrote for LifeSpy some time ago:

• Invest on a good tire gauge.
• Check the tires in cold inflation, meaning just before you start driving. When you drive, the wheels get hot. Your readout may not be accurate when you measure them hot.
• Unscrew the protective caps of the air valve.
• Press the gauge against the valve and check the readout.
• Compare with the recommended.
• Add or let out air as need.
• Screw the protective air valve cap back on.

Some other things that you have to monitor would be tire wear. Are the treads still packing grip? You might have to rotate your tires every 6,000 miles. It’s National Tire Safety Week and this here is an interesting video on a lot of people not being tire smart. View the video after the cut.

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When it comes to transmissions, I’m a manual kind of guy since I love the control it gives. Though I have to admit, sportronic controls are really a treat especially the more modern ones that shift even better than manuals especially when mated to all those fancy-schmancy controls.

Newbie drivers though, appreciate automatic transmissions more since they can focus a lot more on steering than having to time the clutch and shifting. However, I’ve seen many of them do a lot of things that could readily wreck a good car. Here are some driving habits can get your automatic transmission shot.

Shifting into reverse or park. Though most modern automatic transmission automatically lock the park and reverse when it senses the car still moving forward.

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We have several postings on how you can protect your teenagers from road accidents. The day they get their license is a day of a day of awareness on road safety.

But what is that feeling you get every time you see him behind the wheels? Feeling nervous and unsettled about him driving about town? His own license means you can retire from being his chauffeur, you know.

So don’t fret. you just have to know how to prepare your young driver for this responsibility.

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If you take a look at the hottest buzz on today’s celebrities (*cough* Britney *cough*), you might find that a lot of them have been in trouble for irresponsible driving. Reasons are usually alcohol, drugs, and just plain divided attention.

Driving drunk or simply unfocused is one of the stupidest ways to gamble with your life. This is one kind of thrill you don’t want to be in. Driving when you’re not in the condition to drive endangers not just to you but also other people. Know your responsibilities as a driver if you don’t want to end your life with just one wrong turn.

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Economics would often make you consider these two things as methods of travel – driving and flying. But the question remains when do you choose one over the other.

Top Gear challenges have made it clear that public transportation is no match for a fine piece of engineering. But we don’t get to drive Ferrari Scagliettis or Bugatti Veyrons, do we? So when is it more advisable to go on a road trip and when is it better to deal with airplane meals?

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Say you’re driving. You’re entering a corner at a high speed. You lift your right foot off the acceleration pedal to step on the brake while your left foot depresses the clutch pedal. You’re RPM goes way down. You shift down, engage the gear and you feel a jolt. That jolt is the result of a harsh downshift.

Racers usually would avoid this jolt since a harsh downshift can spell losing control especially in the very high speeds they reach. Now to optimize downshifting, you should try to match the engine speed revs with the transmission revs. This means braking, shifting and controlling the throttle all at the same time. This also means stepping on the three pedals. So unless you’ve grown an extra foot, you may have to control two pedals with one. That’s where the heel and toe technique comes in handy.

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If you’re out in the car market, there are somethings that you might want to know about cars before settling on a particular make and model. One of those would be the engine/transmission layout.

In more common carspeak, it’s whether the car’s a front-wheel drive or a rear-wheel drive. Now this short take’s meant for the ordinary motorist just to briefly describe what’s one and the other.

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Getting insurance should really depend on a lot of factors. Many swear by a comprehensive insurance since it will ultimately shield you from a lot of liabilities just in case you meet that “You’ve really done it this time” situation. However, as time goes by, your car depreciates and repair costs would vary. and if you’re pretty much a safe drive who just drives his car a few miles to work, you might just be paying insurance that might be enough to buy you a newer car.

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I’ve learned that lesson a long time ago where you have to check the dash if the parking brake light is off and if the lever is totally flush down. But I just got this question from one of my old college pals. “What happens if I drive with my parking brake engaged, will my car be okay?”

Judging from her question, she already did it. Well, for starters, it’s not good at all to do that. Now this lady friend of mine’s a newbie in driving so I’m not laughing at her mistakes. As for her car, well…

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